The police commander in the autonomous Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville, Paul Kamuai, says a lack of resources is handicapping their efforts to win the release of 3 women hurt in an attack by kidnappers last week in south Bougainville.

The women were accused of sorcery, along with school teacher and human rights activist, Helen Rumbali, who was decapitated.

The women have been getting some aid from a medical centre but Mr Kamuai says they need to get to hospital in Buka.

He says the armed kidnappers have set up a road block and are demanding compensation from the alleged sorcerers.

Mr Kamuai says the ability of Bougainville police to react is constrained by a lack of resources.

"We are way behind [in] technology, we are way behind in communication, we are way behind in resources but we are not able to do that in good, swift enough timing. We are concerned about it. I'm very concerned. I know that we need to attend. We need to beef up the work down there, to be there with the additional support for the local police down there."

The police commander in the autonomous Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville, Paul Kamuai.